David Bentley has named the Crystal Palace player who has to start for Thomas Tuchel’s England at the 2026 World Cup.
Ex-Tottenham and Blackburn midfielder David Bentley has named Adam Wharton as one player who “has to start” for England at the World Cup.
In a recent interview with oddschecker, Bentley said: “I think he has to start Wharton next to Declan Rice in midfield, he provides a balance that none of our other midfielders do.
“The way he moves the ball and can affect the game from deep positions will allow our attacking players to flourish. There’s a lot of players who want to have possession of the ball - Trent, Jude, Saka, Palmer. We need someone like Wharton who can be unselfish and distribute the play from a deeper position.”
The latest betting odds of 10/11 give Adam Wharton around a 52% probability of making the 2026 England World Cup squad.
Wharton was an unused substitute in all of England’s Euro 2024 matches, with many fans calling on the 21-year-old to play in the tournament.
As it stands, Wharton would just about make it into the 26-man squad for the tournament, according to the betting odds.
England’s 26-man squad according to latest odds
| Goalkeeper |
Defenders |
Midfielders |
Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickford |
Konsa |
Bellingham |
Kane |
| Henderson |
Guehi |
Rice |
Saka |
| Trafford |
Lewis-Skelly |
C Jones |
Palmer |
| |
Trent A-A |
Gallagher |
Foden |
| |
Colwill |
Gibbs-White |
Gordon |
| |
R James |
Wharton |
Eze |
| |
Stones |
|
Rogers |
| |
B White |
|
Watkins |
| |
|
|
Solanke |
Bentley also urged his former club Tottenham to “splash the cash” and bring Wharton to the club.
“None of Spurs’ current midfielders can dictate the play in midfield, you look at Sarr, Bentancur, and Bissouma, they don’t have the skillset to do that.
“In the Champions League you’re going to need a deep lying playmaker, and Adam Wharton fits that mould, Spurs should be splashing the cash to get him in this summer.”
